Getting ready to build stand w/ sump

down and outman · 12-25-2006, 05:40 PM

Taking a long vacation in January to build a new stand. Been buying what I need. I have 1/2" sanded plywood and 2x4's, nice looking wood, should stain well. Got a 37 gal tub for the sump. A Dremmel diamond bit to cut the hole in the tank. Need to practice on a piece of glass to see how it will work/ I'm not sold on the over the top overflows, look like a nightmare waiting to happen.

Got a 700gph pump and planning out the return so I can improve the flow in the tank and eliminate the powerheads. A SWCD looks like a good idea, but I may incorporate it later. Still looking for a bulkhead fitting, will have to order it online as nobody around town has one.

The tricky part is the time I have the tank torn down to drill the glass, move the tank off the old stand and set it up on the new one. I have only 3 fish at this point but I don't want to lose any. Thought I'd use the tub for a temporary tank while I'm working on the tank, putting the fish, rock, skimmer, heater, etc in the tub.

I just got a taste of moving a tank. Moved a friend's 30 gal across town for him. Took about 5 hours and everyone's doing well. I've been holding off getting any more fish or getting corals period until after I do this and get it up and running right.

There's probably some things I haven't thought about, so help me out here. Thanks! in advance.

sasquatch · 12-26-2006, 10:37 AM

Best of luck! will be a nice upgrade for you, two things, dont forget the saftey equipment( 2 eyes,10 fingers, youll need them later) and when drilling the hole make sure its not an equal distance from a corner. Steve

boozeman · 12-26-2006, 11:28 AM

ohhh I love a build thread...take lots of pics

and remember...measure twice and cut once

Snelly40 · 12-26-2006, 11:38 AM

wow, keep us updated. id love to build one instead of buying one from the LFS for wayyyyyyyyyyy too much $$$$$$

down and outman · 12-26-2006, 11:48 PM

I've always been a DIY kind of guy. My bass and guitar speaker cabinets are DIY and work good. I will get some pics on this project. I can't wait to get started. BTW, I also believe in safety, I like picking and grinning too and it takes all ten.
Shoot, this whole saltwater tank business has been a DIY project. My wife's eating her words when I was given this tank. "Let's do saltwater" she said.

down and outman · 01-03-2007, 01:24 AM

Five days and counting! Started clearing out the junk in my garage to make room. Bought the wood. Ordered some supplies from the good Drs (Foster and Smith), namely the bulkhead fitting. Got Photoshop reloaded on my 'puter so I can resize my pics. Found a better tub, it's clear, smaller and has smooth sides so it ought to be better to work with. About a 22 gallon. Need to stop at Home Depot and get some plumbing goodies. Thought about splitting the return, having the drain in the center of the back and the nozzles on either side. Anyway I'm getting excited. My fish may hate me for a few days, but I think they'll like it after I'm done. Then I can get some shrooms and polyps to get the reef started! Cool.

Kensn · 01-03-2007, 02:41 AM

Measure twice.... cut once...

PhilOlsen · 01-03-2007, 07:08 AM

Looking forward to some pics.

boozeman · 01-03-2007, 10:13 AM

let the saw dust fly!!!!

down and outman · 01-09-2007, 10:11 AM

Saw dust is flying! Making a few adjustments here and there. Also going to order the Nova Extreme 48" T-5 lights! My fish will need sunglasses.

down and outman · 01-09-2007, 11:43 AM

Letting the glue dry on the base.

In the meantime, I got a Coralife digital timer to control the lights. The cheapie I got at WallyWorld didn't want to cut off the lights half the time. I'd get up and the algae was having a field day.
Side note: My Yellow Tang and Pygmy Angelfish are making short work of the hair algae in my tank.

They also ate all the algae on the bottom. I feed them once a day. The bi-color pseudochromis is doing OK with that, too. He's a monster who likes to eat snails and anything else meaty in the tank.
They're looking at me like they know it's feeding time.

Anyway, I've hooked up another powerstrip for the skimmer and the powerheads, so I can cut them off at feeding time, or maintenance too. Got another one for the sump pump. They're cheaper and easier than hardwiring switches and outlets.

There will be pics once I get a little farther.

down and outman · 01-10-2007, 05:50 PM

The tank as it is now. Note the algae, although most of the hair algae has been eaten by the Tang and Pseudochromis. Also the refugium on the side. All the junk is going in the sump.

down and outman · 01-10-2007, 05:56 PM

The glue drying on the base.

billyr98 · 01-10-2007, 10:43 PM

Nice Work!!! DIY Karma!!

lcstorc · 01-11-2007, 08:14 AM

Looking good! Keep up the good work.

12-25-2006, 05:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
down and outman Fire Coral Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: LaGrange GA Posts: 68 View Gallery Karma Komment	Getting ready to build stand w/ sump Taking a long vacation in January to build a new stand. Been buying what I need. I have 1/2" sanded plywood and 2x4's, nice looking wood, should stain well. Got a 37 gal tub for the sump. A Dremmel diamond bit to cut the hole in the tank. Need to practice on a piece of glass to see how it will work/ I'm not sold on the over the top overflows, look like a nightmare waiting to happen. Got a 700gph pump and planning out the return so I can improve the flow in the tank and eliminate the powerheads. A SWCD looks like a good idea, but I may incorporate it later. Still looking for a bulkhead fitting, will have to order it online as nobody around town has one. The tricky part is the time I have the tank torn down to drill the glass, move the tank off the old stand and set it up on the new one. I have only 3 fish at this point but I don't want to lose any. Thought I'd use the tub for a temporary tank while I'm working on the tank, putting the fish, rock, skimmer, heater, etc in the tub. I just got a taste of moving a tank. Moved a friend's 30 gal across town for him. Took about 5 hours and everyone's doing well. I've been holding off getting any more fish or getting corals period until after I do this and get it up and running right. There's probably some things I haven't thought about, so help me out here. Thanks! in advance. __________________ "There you go lad, keep as cool as you can. Face piles of trials with smiles." Moody Blues 90 Gal AGA RR, 50 lbs caribean liverock, a bunch of agrocrete rock, 90# Caribsea Sugar Sand Nova Extreme HO T-5 Phosban reactor 2 Koralia 4's, Mag Drive 7

12-26-2006, 10:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,917 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Getting ready to build stand w/ sump Best of luck! will be a nice upgrade for you, two things, dont forget the saftey equipment( 2 eyes,10 fingers, youll need them later) and when drilling the hole make sure its not an equal distance from a corner. Steve

12-26-2006, 11:28 AM	#3 (permalink)
boozeman The CodFather ~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: new york Posts: 8,800 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Getting ready to build stand w/ sump ohhh I love a build thread...take lots of pics and remember...measure twice and cut once __________________ ...and when I'm old and wise little things mean little to me like autumn winds they'll blow right through me and someday, in the mist of time when they ask you if you knew me remember that you were a friend of mine

12-26-2006, 11:38 AM	#4 (permalink)
Snelly40 Golden Moray Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 2,442 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Getting ready to build stand w/ sump wow, keep us updated. id love to build one instead of buying one from the LFS for wayyyyyyyyyyy too much $$$$$$ __________________ Snelly's 90gal Reef-O-Rama *Member-"Crabs Are Evil" Society* In Hoc Signo Vinces

12-26-2006, 11:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
down and outman Fire Coral Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: LaGrange GA Posts: 68 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Getting ready to build stand w/ sump I've always been a DIY kind of guy. My bass and guitar speaker cabinets are DIY and work good. I will get some pics on this project. I can't wait to get started. BTW, I also believe in safety, I like picking and grinning too and it takes all ten. Shoot, this whole saltwater tank business has been a DIY project. My wife's eating her words when I was given this tank. "Let's do saltwater" she said. __________________ "There you go lad, keep as cool as you can. Face piles of trials with smiles." Moody Blues 90 Gal AGA RR, 50 lbs caribean liverock, a bunch of agrocrete rock, 90# Caribsea Sugar Sand Nova Extreme HO T-5 Phosban reactor 2 Koralia 4's, Mag Drive 7

01-03-2007, 01:24 AM	#6 (permalink)
down and outman Fire Coral Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: LaGrange GA Posts: 68 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Getting ready to build stand w/ sump Five days and counting! Started clearing out the junk in my garage to make room. Bought the wood. Ordered some supplies from the good Drs (Foster and Smith), namely the bulkhead fitting. Got Photoshop reloaded on my 'puter so I can resize my pics. Found a better tub, it's clear, smaller and has smooth sides so it ought to be better to work with. About a 22 gallon. Need to stop at Home Depot and get some plumbing goodies. Thought about splitting the return, having the drain in the center of the back and the nozzles on either side. Anyway I'm getting excited. My fish may hate me for a few days, but I think they'll like it after I'm done. Then I can get some shrooms and polyps to get the reef started! Cool. __________________ "There you go lad, keep as cool as you can. Face piles of trials with smiles." Moody Blues 90 Gal AGA RR, 50 lbs caribean liverock, a bunch of agrocrete rock, 90# Caribsea Sugar Sand Nova Extreme HO T-5 Phosban reactor 2 Koralia 4's, Mag Drive 7

01-03-2007, 02:41 AM	#7 (permalink)
Kensn Elegance coral Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Auburn Wa. Posts: 1,249 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Getting ready to build stand w/ sump Measure twice.... cut once... __________________ Ken When the ebbing tide retreats Along the rocky shoreline It leaves a trail of tidal pools In a short-lived galaxy Rush

01-03-2007, 07:08 AM	#8 (permalink)
PhilOlsen Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Glendale Hts. Illinois (Chicago transplant to humor my wife) Posts: 646 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Getting ready to build stand w/ sump Looking forward to some pics.

01-03-2007, 10:13 AM	#9 (permalink)
boozeman The CodFather ~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: new york Posts: 8,800 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Getting ready to build stand w/ sump let the saw dust fly!!!! __________________ ...and when I'm old and wise little things mean little to me like autumn winds they'll blow right through me and someday, in the mist of time when they ask you if you knew me remember that you were a friend of mine

01-09-2007, 10:11 AM	#10 (permalink)
down and outman Fire Coral Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: LaGrange GA Posts: 68 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Getting ready to build stand w/ sump Saw dust is flying! Making a few adjustments here and there. Also going to order the Nova Extreme 48" T-5 lights! My fish will need sunglasses. __________________ "There you go lad, keep as cool as you can. Face piles of trials with smiles." Moody Blues 90 Gal AGA RR, 50 lbs caribean liverock, a bunch of agrocrete rock, 90# Caribsea Sugar Sand Nova Extreme HO T-5 Phosban reactor 2 Koralia 4's, Mag Drive 7 Last edited by down and outman : 01-09-2007 at 10:17 AM. Reason: Adding on an afterthought!

01-09-2007, 11:43 AM	#11 (permalink)
down and outman Fire Coral Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: LaGrange GA Posts: 68 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Getting ready to build stand w/ sump Letting the glue dry on the base. In the meantime, I got a Coralife digital timer to control the lights. The cheapie I got at WallyWorld didn't want to cut off the lights half the time. I'd get up and the algae was having a field day. Side note: My Yellow Tang and Pygmy Angelfish are making short work of the hair algae in my tank. They also ate all the algae on the bottom. I feed them once a day. The bi-color pseudochromis is doing OK with that, too. He's a monster who likes to eat snails and anything else meaty in the tank. They're looking at me like they know it's feeding time. Anyway, I've hooked up another powerstrip for the skimmer and the powerheads, so I can cut them off at feeding time, or maintenance too. Got another one for the sump pump. They're cheaper and easier than hardwiring switches and outlets. There will be pics once I get a little farther. __________________ "There you go lad, keep as cool as you can. Face piles of trials with smiles." Moody Blues 90 Gal AGA RR, 50 lbs caribean liverock, a bunch of agrocrete rock, 90# Caribsea Sugar Sand Nova Extreme HO T-5 Phosban reactor 2 Koralia 4's, Mag Drive 7

01-10-2007, 10:43 PM	#14 (permalink)
billyr98 Reefing Addict Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cherry Hill, NJ Posts: 5,399 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Getting ready to build stand w/ sump Nice Work!!! DIY Karma!! __________________ Billyr98 -=NJRC Treasurer=- My 450g Reef Tank ~~~ Its HERE!!!

01-11-2007, 08:14 AM	#15 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 18,412 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Getting ready to build stand w/ sump Looking good! Keep up the good work. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

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